Electric welding machine



Sept. 13, 1938. 2,129,845

T. M. KING ET AL ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1936 5 Sheets-4511681; l

FIG.

I N VE N TOR$ 7.'M. KING ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1938. T. M. KING ET AL 2,129,845

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 9 r0 2 4 1; M F 4 x m mmw gt El MKS V m WM I L 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 13, 1938. -r. M. KING ET AL ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, less I E r Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE poration of New York Application September 11, 1936, Serial No. 100,266 Claims. (Cl. 140144) This invention relates to electric welding machines, and more particularly to equipment for welding contacts to switch springs or other elements of electrical apparatus.

In the manufacture of electrical equipment it is 4 sometimes desirable to use gold, silver, palladium or other noble metals for contacts on members employed to control electrical circuits. For example, the application of these metals on the contacting portions of certain electrical switches in communication apparatus, improves the reliability and operation of the equipment. Because these metals are costly, it is desirable to restrict their use and to apply the metal accurately, securely and rapidly to the contacting surfaces on the switch elements for maximum utility and economy.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for welding material accurately and economically.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention an electric welding machine is provided in which a continuous strip of contact metal is advanced intermittently through a guide passage to a pair of hinged jaws pivotally mounted adjacent to a pair of electrodes. A portion of the strip is fed between the jaws which are clamped to-- gether to grip the stock and then rotated to shear a section or contact from the strip. The jaws then carry the severed contact into a position in advance of a pusher rod which unclamps the jaws and delivers the contact to the welding position on a spring member placed between an upper and lower electrode which are compressed against the spring and the contact to weld the parts and complete the operation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a welding machine embodying the features of this invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged views, partly in section, of portions of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sections taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 4;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged detailed vertical sections of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 4 showing the positions of the component members at various stages of the operating cycle;

Fig. 11 is a section of Fig. 8 taken on the line Il-'l l;

l2Fig.z 12 is a section of Fig. 9 taken on the line "Fig.3 13 is a section of Fig. 10 taken on the line Fig. 14 is a substantially horizontal sectional view taken on the line "-44 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 15 and 16 are sections taken on the lines i5-i5 and l6-I6 of Fig. 14, respectively; and

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are perspective views of operating members shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 1, a fixture 20 of suitable contour is mounted on top of a machine base 2| for supporting a switch spring 22 or other part on which a contact is to be welded. In the welding positi on, the left end of the part extends from the fixture between an upper electrode 23 and a lower electrode 24 which are adapted to clamp the contact and spring between them and weld the parts together.

The lower electrode which is made of copper is adjustably mounted with a threaded collar 25 on a lower electrode support 26. The support has a cylindrical shank 21 slidably mounted in a bearing 28 in the machine base. The electrode is reciprocated by a cylindrical rod 29 which engages a compressible spring 30 recessed in the support shank at its upper end and an eccentric cam 3! on a main drive shaft 32 at its lower end. The relative movement of the electrode support and the rod is limited by a stud 33 projecting from the rod into an elongated slot 34 in the shank wall. The main drive shaft is supported in bearings 35 secured to the bottom of the base and connected to an electric motor or other driving means through a conventional clutch (not shown).

The upper electrode and mechanism for feeding the contact to the part are supported on a hollow column 31 mounted on the machine base to the right of the jig. A housing 38 extends from the top portion of the column to the left over the base for enclosing the driving mechanism. Extending from the left end of the housing and aligned vertically with the electrodes are two brackets 39 and 40 for supporting the upper electrode. The lower of these brackets is split and clamped against a tubular sleeve 4| by means of a flanged bolt 42. Longitudinally slidable in the sleeve is an upper electrode actuating rod 43 which carries at its lower end an offset member 44 to which the disk-shaped copper electrode is secured by means of a bolt. The upper electrode has a series of peripheral notches 45 for receiving the contact and is rotatably adjustable on its support to permit proper alignment. The upper end of the electrode supporting rod is slidably supported in a recessed bearing 41 which is threaded into the upper electrode bracket. A coiled spring 48 is compressedin'the bearing recess against a collar 49 pinned to the electrode rod for retaining the rod yieldably against anupper electrode operating lever 50-engaging the under surface of the collar. The lever is fulcr'umed on a pivot 5| in a bracket 52 projecting from the mechanism housing and is actuated by a stepped cam 53 keyed to a cam shaft 54 supported in the mechanism housing. The pivot 5| is eccentric for adjusting the position and travel of the lever.

The cam shaft is rotated by a vertical drive shaft 55 mounted on bearings 56 in the hollow column 81 through a worm and worm wheel 51. The vertical shaft extends down through the base and is connected to the main drive shaft 32 through a pair of bevel gears 58. A hand wheel 46 extends from the top of the vertical drive shaft for manual operation of the mechanism. The position of the upper electrode is controlled by its operating lever driven from the cam shaft,

which at an appropriate time lowers the electrode under pressure of the compressed spring in the recessed bearing to firmly engage a contact positioned in the electrode notch and maintain the contact under suitable pressure during the welding operation. Thewelding pressure is adjusted by moving the recessed bearing in its threaded support.

The mechanism for feeding, shearing and delivering the contact to the electrode is supported on an elongated feeding mechanism frame 58 mounted to the left of the upper electrode. The frame and the upper electrode are made adjustable relative to the axis of the part in the fixture to permit adjustment of the contact position. Above and aligned with the electrode brackets are two additional brackets 60 and GI on the mechanism housing for rotatably supporting a cylindrical rod 62. The frame is secured to an enlarged collar 53 pinned to the top of this rod and a similar collar 64 which is pinned to the sleeve 4| in which the upper electrode actuating rod is .bearinged. The electrode support 44 is keyed by suitable means not shown to the collar 54. To change the position of the upper electrode and contact feeding mechanism, the split portions of the sleeve brr'iket are released and the upper electrode and feeding mechanism frame rotated on the rod and sleeve to locate the contact at any required angular position on the part.

The contact metal is introduced tothe machine in the form of a continuous strip or tape 56 of suitable cross-section for satisfactory welding and service. The strip may be bi-metallic and is rolled or otherwise formed into the required cross-section. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the strip is threaded through a hollow feed spindle 51 which is slidably supported in a bearing 58 threaded into a frame bracket 68 and a plunger sleeve 10 encircling the lower portion of the spindle. Cooperating members on the bottom ends of the spindle and plunger sleeve comprise a collet chuck for engaging and advancing the contact metal strip in accordance with the relative positions of the spindle'and sleeve., Mounted in longitudinal peripheral grooves 1| (Fig. 5) in the end portion of the spindle are two chuck jaws 12 and 13 having their inside surfaces formed to the cross-sectional contour of the strip (Fig. 6). A leaf spring 14 is mounted in each spindle groove underneath each jaw to urge the jaws out of engagement with the strip. Encircling the jawsis a split cone 15 held on a keyed portion 16 of the plunger sleeve with screws 11. The peripheral surfaces of the jaws and the inner surface of the cone have corresponding tapers and the jaws extend through an opening in the bottom of the cone.

The plunger sleeve is vertically movable in bearing brackets 18 and 19 projecting from the frame. Surrounding its upper end and compressed between an annular flange 80 on the sleeve and the upper bracket is a coiled spring 8| normally holding the sleeve in its upper position in which the cone compresses the chuck jaws against the strip. The feed spindle is normally retained in its upper position by a spring 82 compressed between an annular flange 83 on the spindle end and the spindle bearing 68. The normal positions of the spindle and sleeve are determined by the adjustable spindle bearing which is locked with a collar 84.

The feed spindle is depressed to advance the stock by a spindle lever 85 engaging a shoulder 86 on the spindle. As shown in Fig. 1, the spindle lever is rotated on a pivot 81 in the mounting frame 59 by means of a primary spindle lever 88 fulcrumed at 89 in the housing brackets 52 and operated by a cam on the cam shaft 54. Motion is transmitted from the primary lever to the spindle operating lever through a collar 98 sliding on the vertical rod 62 on which the feeding mechanism frame and upper electrode are rotated for adjustment of contact position. The plunger sleeve is engaged by a similar lever- 85 pivoted at 9| on the frame and actuated by a primary lever 93 which is fulcrumed in the bracket 52 and actuated by a cam on the cam shaft 54. Motion is transmitted between these levers through a freely sliding collar 94 on the rod 82.

In normal position the chuck jaws on the spindle are clamped against the contact metal strip by the cone on the plunger sleeve under tension supplied by the spring 8| at the top of the sleeve which urges the tapered inner surface of the cone against the correspondingly tapered peripheral surfaces of the jaws to compress the jaws against the strip. When the spindle is depressed by its lever, the sleeve also advances to hold the jaws against the strip and advance the strip a predetermined distance equal to the length of one contact. This travel, and the consequent length of the contact, is adjusted by means of the threaded spindle bearing. 68. At the bottom of the feed stroke, the plunger sleeve lever is applied against the top of the sleeve to further depress it in its bearings. This removes the cone from the jaws, permitting the leaf springs underneath the jaws to release the strip while the spindle, is returned to its'normal or elevated position by its spring. At the end of the spindle return stroke the sleeve is released and returned to its elevated position by its spring, causing the cone to clamp the jaws against the strip, ready for the next feeding cycle. An extension 86 of the plunger sleeve lever enables the machine operator to manually release the jaws from the stock at any time while adjusting the apparatus.

The advanced portion 92 of the strip is fed into a guide channel 91 formed by a series of plates mounted on the mechanism frame. The guide channel has the same cross-section as the strip and conducts the strip downward and to the right from the feed spindle.

To-hold the strip stationary during the return stroke of the feed spindle, a brake 88 (Fig. 2) is mounted in one of the formed plates 98 directly below and to the left of the collet chuck. The brake comprises a brake pad I00 which is flexibly compressed against the strip in the guide channel by a plunger IOI through an intermediate spring I02 to accommodate variations in strip contour. A second spring I03 compressed between the plunger and the plate holds the brake-pad normally away from the strip.

The brake is operated by a bell crank I04 pivoted at I05 on the plate and provided with a vertical arm I06 for engaging the left end of the brake plunger. The bell crank is connected through a series of hinged links I01 pivoted at I08 in the mounting frame to a bell crank operating lever I 09. The upper link H0 is adjustable having a shank III threaded into a sleeve II2 for regulating the position and travel of the bell crank. The bell crank operating lever (Fig. 1) is hinged on a pivot H3 in the feeding mechanism frame with its end opposite the adjustable link flexibly keyed to a collar I I5 which is freely movable on the vertical rod 62. Engaging the top of this collar is a primary lever II6 hinged at H1 in the bracket 52 and actuated from the cam shaft 54. Another primary lever III! also pivoted at H9 on the bracket 52 and operated by a cam on the cam shaft engages the bottom of the sliding collar. By means of these levers the bell crank is moved positively in two directions.

The upper right portion of the guide channel opposite the brake is formed by a plate I20 (Fig. 2) cooperating with plate 99 and the lower portion is formed by a left hand plate I2I and a right hand plate I22. The guide channel formed by these plates terminates at its lower end in a pair of hinged jaws mounted between the channel and the upper electrode to shear the contact from the strip and conduct the severed contact to the electrode groove. The lower end portion I23 of the feed channel adjacent to the shear jaws is pivoted on a pin I24, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. An insert I3I in the plate I22 forms the upper part of the feed channel at this point. The hinged portion (Fig. 18) has an offset I26 from which a leaf spring I21 extends beyond the right end of the guide channel for engaging the shear jaws and clamping the hinged portion against the strip during the shearing operation,

The construction of the shear members is shown in Figs. 17 and 19 and their installation and operation are illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

An upper shear jaw I28 (Fig. 17) has a body I29 and an elongated offset operating arm I30. A lower shear jaw I32 (Fig. 19) has a channelshaped body I33 adapted to receive the upper jaw body and an offset operating arm I34. The jaws are hinged with their body portions nested on a cylindrical pin I36 engaging aligned openings I31 in the jaw bodies and mounted in a plate I25 adjacent to the upper electrode. Cooperating longitudinal grooves in the two jaw bodies provide a channel I38 of suitable crosssection for receiving and conducting the contact.

Extending from each jaw operating arm near the pivot end is a stud I39 between which a coiled spring I40 (Fig. 4) wrapped around an extension of the shear jaw pivot is compressed for normally holding the jaws slightly spaced to receive the contact.

Spacing of the jaws is regulated by a latch I4I pivoted at I42 on the lower jaw operating arm and adapted to engage a lug I43 on the the guide channel is engaged by a screw I52 in a shoulder I53 on the rear of the lower shear Mechanism for rotating the jaws upward on their supporting pin to shear the contact from the strip is applied to the lower jaw operating arm. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the lower jaw arm is connected through a link I54 on a pin I65 in the arm to a right angle lever I56 fulcrumed on a pivot I51 above the jaws. At the outer end of the horizontal lever leg to which the link is pinned at I58 is a tensioned spring I59 tied to the plate I20. Compressed against the left side of the vertical lever leg is a crank arm I60 provided at I6I on the plate I2I and actuated by a tensioned spring I62 which is relatively stronger than the spring I59 and holds the crank arm normally against a stop I35 projecting from the plate. The crank arm engages the right angle lever through a stud I63 threaded into the arm and the stud is adjusted to locate the normal position of the jaws. The right side of the right angle lever vertical leg engages a shoulder I64 on an elongated horizontal bar I65. The bar is longitudinally slidable on a pin I66 engaging an elongated slot I61 in the bar and is connected at its left end opposite the shoulder to the bell crank lever I84 by means of a pin I68.

Below the guide channel and to the left of the shear jaws a longitudinally movable feed finger I69 is mounted for delivering the severed contact through the channel in the jaws into the electrode slot. The feed finger has a small cross section and projects from the end of a feed finger carrier I10 (Figs. 14 and 15) which is slidably mounted in a holder- I50. The holder is adjustably secured in a supporting member I1I by means of a stud I11 projecting from the holder which engages a screw I15 threaded into a slit yoke I16 on the supporting member. A compressible spring I12 is interposed between the feed finger and its supporting member by engagement with a shoulder I13 on the carrier and a flange I14 on the supporting member to hold the members extended and their normal relative positions are established by the screw I15 which is clamped in the split yoke with a screw I18 to hold the members accurately in the adjusted position The feed finger carrier supporting member IN is slidably supported in a housing I19 secured to the bottom of the mechanism frame 59. Top and bottom portions of the housing cooperate (Fig. 16) to form a longitudinal runway I8I for ball bearings I82 mounted on shafts I83 projecting from the feed finger carrier support. The feed finger assembly is held in its normal position at the left end of the housing against a fiber stop I84 by a tensioned spring I85 having one end secured at I86 to the housing and the other end tied to an arm I81 projecting from the right rear end of the carrier support.

Projecting from the left front of the feed finger carrier supporting member through the open front of the housing is a rotatable collar I88 for engaging a fork III on the bell crank lever I (Fig. 2) which advances the feed finger into the jaws. Projecting from the right front 01' the supporting member is a stud ISI (Fig. 14) to engage the lower jaw operating arm and align the feed channel in the jaws with the advancing feed linear. The feed finger is flexible due to its thin section and relatively long length and is aligned accurately with the channel in the jaws by a bushing II! in a bracket Ill at the right end of the feed finger mechanism housing. Near the right end or the feed finger mechanism housing a vertical bracket I54 (Fig. 4) is bolted to the mounting plate III. At the bottom oi the bracket is an adjustable stud I96 for engaging a projection I51 on the jaw latch III and releasing the latch as the ieed finger advances.

In the operation or the apparatus the switch spring or other part is placed on the jig with its left end, on which a contact is to be welded, extending between the upper and lower electrodes which are spaced apart to facilitate positioning of the part. The strip of contact material is introduced to the machine from a supply roll (not shown) and threaded through the hollow feed spindle and the guide channel below the spindle. At the beginning or the operation the end of the strip is'located at the left end of the shear jaws.

The operating cycle is introduced by engaging the main drive shaft with the power source, which drives the connected vertical shaft and the cam shaft, causing the cams to pivot the actuating levers in timed relation. At the beginning 01' the cycle, the feed spindle and associated plunger sleeve are depressed to advance the strip through the guide channel a distance equal to the length of the one contact, as previously described.

The advanced portion of the strip is fed into the passage in the shear jaw bodies which at this stage are aligned with the guide channel as shown in Fig. 8. The jaws are held slightly spaced by the spring IIII compressed between them with the latch stud I" engaging the lug I53 on the upper arm so that the advancing strip is readily fed into the jaw grooves. The studs are positioned accurately by adjustment of the stud on the crank arm III which locates the right angle lever and link connecting the lever to the lower jawarm.

After the feed spindle reaches the bottom of its stroke the associated plunger sleeve is further depressed by its operating lever to release the feeding jaws from the strip, as previously explained. Simultaneously, the lower primary bell crank lever III is rocked by its cam to raise the sliding collar II5 on its shaft, rotating the link operating lever III! in a counterclockwise direction, and the bell crank III in a clockwise direction on its pivot I05. During this motion the vertical arm IN on the bell crank engages the brake plunger IOI to compress the brake pad firmly against the strip. The braking action is applied through the spring compressed between the plunger and the pad to accommodate strip of varying thickness.

Clockwise rotation of the bell crank also moves the elongated bar I55, which is pinned to the crank below the crank pivot, to the left, rocking the right angle lever I58 in a counterclockwise direction to pivot the shear jaws upwards through the link connecting the lever and the lower shear jaw operating arm I. Initial motion of the jaws clamps the lunged lower end portion I23 of the guide channel against the strip through the leaf spring I21 which engages the screw I52 projecting from the lower jaw. The screw is adjusted in its support to insure clamping of the strip during early motion 01 the Jaws. The nested upper and lower shear jaws are clamped against the portion of the strip extending into the jaw channel by the spring depressed stop I" applied against the top 01 the upper jaw. As the jaws rotate upwards the advanced portion of the strip is sheared from the strip and gripped between the Jaws as shown in Fig. 9. During their upward travel the jaws are further compressed by the spring depressed stop, permitting the jaw latch spring I 44 to swing the latch Ill on its pivot, causing the latch notch I45 to engage the lug I" on the upper arm and hold the severed contact securely.

During the shearing stroke of the jaws the feed spindle and sleeve are returned to their upper positions with the feed chuck jaws removed from the strip, as previously described. At the same time the upper and lower electrodes are moved towards the part in the jig. The lower electrode cam 3i raises the rod 29 to compress the spring in the support shank and elevate the electrode against the part. Simultaneously, the upper electrode operating lever 50 is pivoted by its stepped cam on the shaft 54 in a counterclockwise direction sufilciently to lower the electrode under pressure of the electrode spring It to an intermediate position in which it lightly engages the part in the jig.

At the termination of the shearing stroke of the jaws, the lower primary bell crank operating lever H8 is released, restoring the bell crank, brake and shearing jaws to their normal positions. During this motion the jaws are held firmly against the severed contact by the jaw latch. As the next step in the cycle, the upper primary bell crank operating lever H6 is pivoted against the top of the sliding collar 5 to rotate the link actuating lever I09 in a clockwise direction. This moves the bell crank II in a counterclockwise direction causing the fork I59 to engage the collar I88 projecting from the feed finger carrier supporting member Ill and move the entire feed finger assembly to the right on its ball bearings in the longitudinal runway IBI.

As the feed finger carrier support advances, the roller stud I9I projecting from the forward front of the support engages the inclinedend portion of the lower jaw operating arm and pivots the jaws downward to the position shown in Fig. 10. This motion rotates the right angle lever I 55 linked to'the arm in a clockwise direction and the spring I59 tensioned to the horizontal leg of the lever holds the lower jaw operating arm in close engagement with the roller stud. The counterclockwise movement of the bell crank shifts the elongated bar I65 to the right sufficiently to clear the pivoted position of the vertical leg of the right angle lever. Near the end of this downward motion of the jaws the projection I91 on the jaw latch engages the stud I96, causing the latch to rotate in a clockwise direction to release the notch I45 and engage the stud I46 on the upper jaw arm lug. This permits the spring I40 compressed between the jaws to space them slightly and release the severed contact supported in the jaw channel.

In the depressed position of the jaws shown in Fig. 10, the contact channel in the jaws is aligned with the advancing feed finger I69, guided by the adjacent bushing I92, and thgperipheral notch in the upper electrode. The advancing finger pushes the contact through the channel into the welding position in the electrode groove.

The flexible feed finger conforms readily to slight irregularities in the path through the jaws and the compressible spring I12 between the feed finger and the actuating member Ill prevents damage in the event that the passage becomes obstructed or the jaws inaccurately positioned.

After the contact is deposited in the electrode notch, the bell crank is restored to normal by the cam shaft. This moves the fork I89 to the left and permits the tensioned spring I85 to move the feed finger assembly to the left and withdraw the finger from the jaws after which the jaws are restored to their normal positions by the spring I59 on the horizontal leg of the right angle lever.

As the feed finger is withdrawn, the upper electrode lever is pivoted further in a counterclockwise direction to lower the electrode to the welding position in which the contact is clamped tightly against the part under the adjustable pressure of the upper electrode spring.

Welding current is then introduced to the electrodes from a suitable source through flexible leads and controlled by a switch operated from the horizontal drive shaft. The welding circuit is not shown but well known apparatus can be used for supplying and controlling the welding current. The mechanism disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,924,597, issued December 17, 1935, to C. L. Pfeliler is particularly suitable for this purpose.

Although the invention has been disclosed and described as applied to a specific application, other embodiments and modifications are feasible, and it is to he understood that the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

l. In an apparatus for severing and feeding strand material, a pivot, 22. pair of elongated jaws mounted on the pivot with the pivot at one end of the jaws, means for advancing the strand material. intermittently between the unpivoted ends of the jaws in their normal position, means for moving the jaws on the pivot to a second position to cut the advanced material, means for clamping the jaws against the out portion of the material, means for moving the jaws and the cut materialto a third position, and means for removing the cut material from the jaws in the third position.

2. In a strand feeding and severing apparatus, a base, a pair of relatively movable jaws mounted on the base, a plurality of plates mounted on the base forming a guide channel for conducting the strand to the jaws, a hinged end portion on one of the plates adjacent to the jaws, means for advancing the strand through the channel and between the jaws, means for moving the jaws to shear the advanced portion from the strand, and means operated by the jaws for clamping the hinged end portion of the guide plate against the strand during the shearing operation.

3. In a strand feeding and severing device, a base, a pivot on the base, a pair of jaws on the pivot for engaging the strand, a plurality of plates mounted on the base and forming a guide channel to conduct the strand to the jaws, a hinged member secured to one of the plates for forming the end portion of the guide channel adjacent to the jaws, a resilient arm secured to the hinged member and extending parallel to the jaws, means for advancing the strand intermittently in the channel and between the jaws, means for pivoting jaws to shear the. advanced portion from the strand, and 2. lug on the jaws for engaging the resilient arm when the jaws are pivoted to clamp the hinged member against the strand during the shearing operation.

4. In a strand feeding and shearing apparatus. a pivot a pair of elongated jaws mounted on the pivot with said pivot at one end thereof, said jaws cooperatively providing a guide channel formed to the cross sectional contour of the strands, means for advancing the strand intermittently into the guide channel in the jaws with the jaws in their normal position, means for pivoting the jaws to shear the advanced portion from the strand, a spring depressed latch pivoted on one of the jaws, a lug on the other jaw for engagement by the latch when the jaws are piv-,

oted to clamp the severed member of the strand in the jaws, and means for pivoting the jaws to deliver the severed strand to a desired position.

5. In a strand severing and feeding apparatus, a. base, a plurality of plates mounted on the base and forming a guide passage for the strand, means for advancing the strand intermittently in the guide passage, a pivot, a pair of elongated jaws mounted on the pivot and positioned adjacent to the guide channel to receive the advanced portion of the strand when the jaws are in their normal position, means for pivoting the jaws up wardly to shear the strand, a latch on the jaws for clamping the jaws against the sheared por-- tion of the strand, means for pivoting the jaws downwardly to transfer the severed strand, and a reciprocating member aligned with the lowest position of the jaws for unlatching the jaws and.

moving the sheared strand through the jaws.

d. In a strand feeding and severing device, a pivot, a lower jaw having a channel shaped section mounted on the pivot, an upper jaw mounted on the pivot and having a body nested in said channel, the surfaces of said jaws being grooved to cooperatively form a guide passage for the strand and the pivot being located at one end of the jaws, a fixed guide channel for the strand adjacent to the unpivoted ends of the jaws, an operating arm on the lower jaw for posttioning and moving the jaws on the pivot, a spring compressed between the unpivoted ends of the jaws to normally hold said ends spaced slightly apart, means for advancing the strand a predetermined dista ce through the fixed channel and into the guide p ssage in the jaws when the jaws are spaced apar y the spring in their normal position, means for moving the jaw operating arm. upwardly, and a spring depressed plunger mounted over the upper jaw for compressing the jaws against the strand during their upward movement and causing the jaws to shear the strand at the juncture between the fixed guide passage and the ends of the jaws.

7. In a strand feeding and severing device, a pivot, a lower jaw having a channel shaped section mounted on the pivot, an upper jaw mounted on the pivot and having a body adapted to nest in said channel, the adjacent surfaces of said jaws being grooved to cooperatively form a guide passage for the strand, a fixed guide passage for conducting the strand to the jaws, an operating arm on the lower jaw for positioning and moving the jaws on the pivot, a spring compressed between the jaws to normally hold them spaced slightly apart, means for advancing the strand a predetermined distance through a fixed passage and into the guide passage formed by the jaws when they are in normal position, means secured to the jaw operating arm for pivoting the jaws upwardly, a spring depressed plunger for engaging the upper jaw during said movement and compressing the jaws against the strand to shear the strand at the juncture between the fixed guide passage and the ends of the jaws, a slide mounted below the fixed passage, an elongated finger on the slide having a cross section the same as the passage in the jaws. means for moving the jaw operating arm downwardly to align the jaw passage with the finger, and means for advancing the finger into the jaw passage to move the severed strand through the jaw passage.

8. In a strand severing and feeding device, a base, a plurality of plates fixed to the base to cooperatively form a guide channel for the strand, means for intermittently advancing the strand into one end of the channel, and means mounted at the other end of the channel for severing the advanced length from the strand and transferring the severed portion to a predetermined position comprising a pivot, an upper and a lower jaw mounted on said pivot with the pivot at one end thereof, the unpivoted ends of the jaws being normally spaced apart and aligned with the guide channel to receive the advanced strand, an actuating arm connected to the lower jaw, means for moving the arm to pivot thejaws upwardly, a spring depressed plunger mountedin thebase for engaging the upper jaw during the upward movement and .compressing the jaws against the strand to shear the advanced portion therefrom, a lug on the upper jaw, a spring depressed latch on the lower jaw adapted to engage said lug during the shearing movement and lock the severed strand in the jaws, means for moving the actuating arm to pivot the locked laws and contained strand downwardly to a position below the CERTIFICATE Patent No. 2,129,815.

amasss guide channel, a slide positioned below the guide channel having an elongated finger aligned with the jaws in their down position, means for advancing the finger between the laws, and a stud on the finger for engaging the jaw latch as the finger is advanced to release the severed strand for movement by the finger.

9. In a strand severing and feeding device a reciprocating spindle having a collet chuck at one end thereof for engaging the strand, a fixed guide passage for the strand mounted below the chuck, a pivot adjacent to the passase, a pair of nested jaws mounted on the pivot, a slide positioned below the passage, an elongated finger on the slide, and an actuating means for depreuing the spindle and chuck to advance the strand a predetermined distance through the passage and between the nested jaws, pivot the jaws to shear the advanced length from the strand, pivot the jaws containing the severed strand to align them with the slide finger, and advance the finger between the jaws to remove the severed strand in sequence.

10. In a strand feeding device, a reciprocating spindle having a collet chuck at one end thereof for engaging the strand, a pivot, a pair of jaws mounted on the pivot for shearing the strand, a slide adjacent to the jaws an elongated finger on the slide for removing the sheared strand from the jaws, and a common means for actuating the spindle, chuck, jaws and slide in timed relation to advance the strand a predetermined distance, shear the advanced length from the strand and convey the sheared length to a position beyond the pivoted ends of the jaws.

THOMAS M. ENG. LADIBLAV BTAB'I'NIY.

OF CORRECTION.

September 13, 1938.

THOMAS H. KING, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, line 25', for the word "provided" read pivoted: page i first column, line L 5, for "studs" read jaws; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the rec- 0rd of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of December, A. D. '1958.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsclale Acting Commissioner of Patents.

ill 

